The planned Katima Mulilo mango processing plant is targeting regional and international markets, as the project moves to the procurement stage and the government seeks to expand agricultural value addition in the Zambezi Region.
The facility is expected to process locally produced mangoes and other agricultural products for the domestic market before expanding into regional markets and potentially placing Namibian mango products on international shelves.
UNAM Manager for Public Relations and Media Operations Simon N. Namesho said the planned commercial expansion of the university’s existing fruit and vegetable processing facility would increase its ability to supply markets beyond Namibia.
“Once fully scaled, the facility is expected to move beyond meeting domestic demand to serve regional markets and position Namibian mango products competitively on international shelves,” Namesho said.
Prime Minister Dr Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare said the project has reached the procurement stage, with contractors already procured.
“We have now reached procurement stage, which means we have now procured contractors,” Ngurare said.
The project involves scaling up UNAM’s existing processing facility at its Katima Mulilo Campus into a commercial operation. UNAM previously estimated that the expansion would require about N$20 million.
Namesho said 20% of the projected amount would be financed by UNAM, while the remaining 80% was expected from the government.
The existing facility, operated under UNAM’s Centre for Innovation and Development, has a reported production capacity of about 100 litres of juice per hour.
It currently processes mango, mutete and maguni jams, with plans to expand into dried mango products as production is scaled up.
Ngurare said the project is being developed using UNAM’s technical expertise, with funding involving the university, the Namibia Agronomic Board and the Development Bank of Namibia.
He said the initiative forms part of government plans to establish processing facilities based on the economic potential and available resources of individual regions.
“Following directives from Her Excellency President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, efforts have commenced to collaborate with the University of Namibia to establish a mango processing plant in Katima Mulilo,” Ngurare said.
